English Traditions
English Fairies
Slide 1:
So many countries so many customs, an English proverb
says. We cannot really imagine Britain without all its traditions which have
always been an important part of people’s life and work.
England has preserved its
old ceremonies and traditions to a greater extend than any other country in the
world. They can be classified into several groups: traditions concerning the
Englishmen private life; state traditions; national holidays, religious
holidays and public festivals. There are numerous royal traditions, some are
ancient and others are modern.
Slide 2:
English tradition of the fairy world is long and rich.
There were different ideas about where fairies came from, and what caused them
to live with humans.
Slide 3:
Fairies were thought to be extremely beautiful, but
their dark hair and skin represented, to the medieval mind, their dark nature.
Fairies were responsible for all sorts of mishaps,
from tangled hair, missing needles and leading humans astray to paralyzing
people or animals, causing serious illness and even death.
Slide 4 :
Fairies were known to abduct people, babies before
baptism in particular. When a fairy stole a human baby, she left a fairy baby
in its place– the changeling child. The unfortunate children who were labeled
as changeling babies could have a very tough time – it was believed that
changelings were soulless and could be killed with impunity.
That’s
why there was a tradition of watching over a newborn baby every minute until it
was a couple of months old. To guard their children before baptism against evil
spirits women placed garlic, bread, and steel in the form of some sharp
instrument in the cradle or over the door. In terms of protective charms Englishmen
wore clothing inside out. Before going out into a fairy-haunted place, it was
customary to put a piece of dry bread in one’s pocket.
Slide 5:
Belief
in fairies was deliberately instilled by adults as a way of controlling
children and ensuring their safety by threats of danger from a bogey figures,
e.g. Jenny Greenteeth.
Slide 6:
Medieval
fairies were in and around people’s homes, part of everyday life. They were
particularly sensitive to mess and disorder, and were known to punish people
who were untidy and dirty.
Their
favourite food was milk and cream. The association with cleanliness is obvious.
And keeping the fairies supplied with what they wanted was a way to protect
oneself from the evil deeds.
Slide 7:
On the other hand, fairies were also believed to
bestow gifts and help industrious and generous people as a reward. William Shakespeare
altered the perception of the beings forever, by making fairies more fun,
friendly, and less of a threat to people. (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Slide 8:
Before the mid 19th Century fairies especially pixies
were taken seriously in much of Cornwall and Devon. Even within living memory,
some rural families left small gifts for the pixies in order to placate them.
In some regions, belief in pixies has endured into
contemporary times. During the construction of Hinkley Point nuclear power
station, anything that went wrong was blamed on "the Pixy," with the
station being built near Wick's Barrow, an Iron Age burial mound called
"Pixies Mound" by the locals.
There were reports of pixie sightings in the UK
in the Woodham area of County Durham in 2001.
In 2007 there was another pixie sighting in Sandy, Bedfordshire.
Slide 9:
Nowadays Fairies still continue to live in imagination
of such wonderful people as Joan Rowling, Michael Apted, David Yates, Emma Watson
… I think it’s a wonderful tradition to remind people of this exciting magic
world of fairies.
English Homes
Slide10:
It
is common knowledge that the English are a nation of stay-at-homes. They say
"My house is my castle" because they don't wish their doings to be
overlooked by their neighbours.
Slide 11:
It
is true that English people prefer small houses, built for one family.
Slide 12:
The
fire is the focus of the English Home. The fireplace is the natural centre of
interest in the room. They like to sit round the fire and watch the dancing
flames, exchanging the day's experience. In many houses you will still see
fireplaces, sometimes with columns on each side and a shelf above it on which
there is often a clock or a mirror or photos.
Slide 13:
You'll find no bare, painted
walls in English country homes. Wallpaper with floral patterns is used as it
makes the house cozy and nice.
English
Gardens
Slide 14:
The
love of gardens is deep-rooted in the English people. Most men's conversations
are about gardens. It may be a discussion of the best methods of growing
cucumbers, a talk about the plot which differs from all the others. The British
like growing plants in a window-box outside the kitchen or in the garden near
the house. They love flowers very much.
Slide 15:
The
English garden style is full of natural charm created by an abundance of
colorful, untamed plant life. Winding pathways surrounded by flourishing plants
are an essential part of English gardens. Ponds and natural waterfalls are scenic additions to English gardens
and are inviting to birds, frogs, and other wildlife.
Slide 16:
Outdoor
furniture with a weathered appearance is typical. Hardwood or teak garden
furniture typically complements the English garden style.
Slide 17:
In conclusion I would like to say that it is through
various customs and traditions that the nation and its culture can be
preserved, they connect and unite people of different generations. Moreover,
studying traditions of other countries we can understand each other better. So
it is important to respect and keep them up.
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